Rooted in Relationships

Episode 2.8 - Jessica Calarco - Bridging the Gap: Building trust by offering help

Asking for help can be challenging in the best of times, but is often insurmountable for young people from marginalized communities. In this episode of Rooted in Relationships, Dr. Jessica Calarco, a leading researcher at the University of Indiana discusses inequities, why they persist, the role they play in building trust, and how teachers and other adults can turn the tables by offering unsolicited support to young people.

Episode 2.7 - Andrea Hunter - Shifting the paradigm

Families are unique and the relationships that form among young people and their family is a rich tapestry of experiences. These relationships are influenced by what Dr. Andrea Hunter describes as a, “complex web of social relationships and networks that fold across multiple contexts and generations.” On this episode of Rooted in Relationships, we hear from Dr. Hunter, a professor of human development and family studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. H...

Episode 2.6 - Jean Rhodes - Mentorship is a rich opportunity for positive development from youth to adulthood

The mentor-mentee relationship can be particularly rich for both individuals. Mentors can connect mentees with opportunities and guide them through important educational, professional and personal stages in their lives. In this episode of Rooted in Relationships, former Search Institute CEO, Kent Pekel talks with Dr. Jean Rhodes. Dr. Rhodes is the Frank L. Boyden Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring at the University of Massachusetts...

Episode 2.5 - Clay Cook - Establish, Maintain, Restore

How do you implement relationships with young people and keep those relationships intact over a long period of time? In this episode of Rooted in Relationships we talk with Clay Cook, John W. and Nancy E. Peyton Faculty Fellow in Child and Adolescent Wellbeing at the University of Minnesota. Clay discusses the Establish, Maintain and Restore system of approaching intentional relationships with young people, and how something as simple as greeting students at the classroom doo...

Episode 2.4 - Karen Pittman - On the precipice of change

There’s no question the Covid-19 Pandemic had a negative impact on young people and their relationships, but Karen Pittman, Partner at KP Catalysts, also sees it as an opportunity to prioritize relationships and the positive impact they have on learning and education. In this edition of Rooted in Relationships, Karen Pittman discusses how scaling relationship building among students and educators can lead to increased learning and student success.

Episode 2.3 - Jeff Duncan-Andrade - Centering wellness

Schools and educational institutions rely on big data for information about the students they serve, but what does that data truly tell us about student wellness? More importantly, how can you use data to effectively prioritize wellness and the role educators can play in student wellness to directly influence student success? On this episode of Rooted in Relationships, we talk with Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade about the innovative way he is measuring wellness among young people. ...

Episode 2.2 - Junlei Li - The power of simple interactions

In this episode of Rooted in Relationships we discuss the importance of human relationships and how the fundamental need for connection exists across all cultures, but may look different depending on cultural norms and expectations. We are joined by Dr. Junlei Li Co-Chair of the Human Development and Education program and Saul Zaentz Senior Lecturer in early childhood education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Li discusses how regardless of the culture or cont...

Episode 2.1 - Richard Reeves - Class and the role it plays in relationships and equity

In the first episode of season two of Rooted in Relationships, Search Institute CEO Ben Houltberg introduces Kent Pekel, education leader and former CEO of Search Institute. Season two of the Rooted in Relationships podcast will feature interviews conducted by Kent with a focus on how social capital – family, class, culture and other factors – influence relationship-building. In this episode, Kent talks with Richard Reeves, a senior fellow in economic studies with the Brookin...

Episode 6- The power of diversity in the context of belonging

I am so excited to end our series on character with this powerful episode with renowned scholar, Dr. Valerie Purdie-Greenaway. In this episode, Dr. Purdie-Greenaway breaks down her research on culture and intergroup relations in society into practical insights for cultivating contexts that create psychological safety and a sense of belonging for young people to thrive. There are so many powerful insights in this episode that you will not want to miss.

Episode 1.6 - Dr. Valerie Purdie-Greenaway - The power of diversity in the context of belonging

I am so excited to end our series on character with this powerful episode with renowned scholar, Dr. Valerie Purdie-Greenaway. In this episode, Dr. Purdie-Greenaway breaks down her research on culture and intergroup relations in society into practical insights for cultivating contexts that create psychological safety and a sense of belonging for young people to thrive. There are so many powerful insights in this episode that you will not want to miss.

Strength-based approach to working with opportunity youth

Today is a special episode for Search Institute as we talk with Dr. Peter Samuelson and Karen Kingsley about their amazing work with opportunity youth right here in Minnesota, where Search Institute is based. In this episode, we talk about the importance of shifting the narrative from a deficit-based approach to a strength-based approach that sees the potential in young people that are disconnected from the system, such as those who have dropped out of college, are unemployed...

Episode 1.5 - Dr. Peter Samuelson and Karen Kingsley - Strength-based approach to working with opportunity youth

Today is a special episode for Search Institute as we talk with Dr. Peter Samuelson and Karen Kingsley about their amazing work with opportunity youth right here in Minnesota, where Search Institute is based. In this episode, we talk about the importance of shifting the narrative from a deficit-based approach to a strength-based approach that sees the potential in young people that are disconnected from the system, such as those who have dropped out of college, are unemployed...

Episode 1.4 - Dr. Ashley Whillans - Creating space for what matters most

In this episode, we talk to Harvard Business School professor Dr. Ashley Whillans about becoming more time smart in order to prioritize those things that bring us life and joy. Dr. Whillans insights could not come at a better time for parents, youth workers and teachers that are balancing so much right now in these difficult times. We also discuss the power of generosity and an innovative project with Canadian youth sports to build generosity.

Episode 4- Creating space for what matters most

In this episode, we talk to Harvard Business School professor Dr. Ashley Whillans about becoming more time smart in order to prioritize those things that bring us life and joy. Dr. Whillans insights could not come at a better time for parents, youth workers and teachers that are balancing so much right now in these difficult times. We also discuss the power of generosity and an innovative project with Canadian youth sports to build generosity.

Engaging youth and leveraging community strengths for systemic change

In this episode, Dr. Mehari talks about the importance of authentically engaging communities around the shared purpose of helping young people thrive. She provides powerful examples of what happens when young people define character within their own community. Dr. Mehari is a licensed psychologist and applied researcher with extensive experience creating research-informed approaches to identifying and leveraging community strengths for systemic change. This is a powerful epi...

Episode 1.3 - Dr. Krista Mehari - Engaging youth and leveraging community strengths for systemic change

In this episode, Dr. Krista Mehari talks about the importance of authentically engaging communities around the shared purpose of helping young people thrive. She provides powerful examples of what happens when young people define character within their own community. Dr. Mehari is a licensed psychologist and applied researcher with extensive experience creating research-informed approaches to identifying and leveraging community strengths for systemic change. This is a power...

Dr. Mary Helen

Episode 1.2 - Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang - Resilience through relationships

In this episode, we will be talking to Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang who is an expert on the impact and implications of social and emotional development on learning. We will be diving into the neuroscience of relationships, how deep learning is fostered and the transformative impact when young people have a sense of meaning beyond themselves.

Resilience through relationships

In this episode, we will be talking to Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang who is an expert on the impact and implications of social and emotional development on learning. We will be diving into the neuroscience of relationships, how deep learning is fostered and the transformative impact when young people have a sense of meaning beyond themselves.

Dr. Angela Duckworth

Bringing out the best in young people

Grit is critical to achievement and performance but does not necessarily lead to youth thriving in life. Young people must also feel that they are cared for and be given the opportunity to internalize character strengths into their own sense of identity. In this episode, Dr. Angela Duckworth provides practical tips for creating caring communities that bring out the best in all young people.

Episode 1.1 - Dr. Angela Duckworth - Bringing out the best in young people

Grit is critical to achievement and performance but does not necessarily lead to youth thriving in life. Young people must also feel that they are cared for and be given the opportunity to internalize character strengths into their own sense of identity. In this episode, Dr. Angela Duckworth provides practical tips for creating caring communities that bring out the best in all young people.